Indiana’s game with No. 15 Iowa scheduled for tonight in Assembly Hall has been postponed, the university has announced, after a piece of metal fell from the roof of the building at roughly 2:30 p.m. and damaged seating.

Here are the details, via IU media relations:

“Indiana University Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass has announced that tonight’s Big Ten men’s basketball game between Iowa and Indiana will be postponed as a result of a piece of metal falling from the ceiling into seats in the lower bowl.

Roughly 6 1/2 hours before gametime, a metal facing (roughly eight feet long by 14 inches wide), fell and damaged seats in the lower part of Section F, which is located in the northwest corner of the building.

“Safety is our No.1 priority,” noted Glass. Our University engineers have advised us to postpone events in Assembly Hall until it can be determined what caused the facing to fall and ensure the safety of everyone attending an event in the facility.”

The rescheduling of the Iowa contest and the status of tomorrow night’s women’s game with Michigan will be determined as soon as possible.

And here’s a photo of the affected area, via Inside the Hall’s Jordan Littman:

UPDATE (6:25 p.m.): The Hawkeyes will return to Iowa City tonight and no make-up date has been set yet for a potential Indiana/Iowa game, per a statement from Iowa athletic director Gary Barta. Bankers Life Fieldhouse offered to host the matchup between the Hoosiers and Hawkeyes on Wednesday, however, Indiana told them the Hawkeyes will not be in town.

Here is Barta’s full statement:

Obviously, we are disappointed tonight’s game had to be cancelled. Fran and his team are in contention for a Big Ten title and were looking forward to the opportunity to getting back on the court. The most important part of this equation is safety. We are in full support of Indiana’s decision to postpone the game based on the issues with Assembly Hall. Coach McCaffery and his team are returning from Indiana tonight. We are working with Indiana Athletic Director Fred Glass and the Big Ten Conference to determine when and, possibly, where to play the game.

Also, ESPN released footage of the piece of metal falling from the Assembly Hall ceiling. That video is posted below.

Could they move back over into Gladstein Fieldhouse next door? It would be tiny by comparison, but it has 9000 seats and sits on the campus.

IUMIKE1

It should, but the sad fact is that it would take a piece of metal falling on some for them to change their mind. They better be lining up another 40 million dollar donation to fix the roof cause best I can remember none of that donation was slated to pay for a major roof renovation.

Paul

Why would I be singing a different tune if someone got killed? I’d be saying they better move fast on the renovation or find somewhere else to play temporarily.

Perhaps I’m biased as a Cubs fan, a franchise that successfully mitigated the safety issues in a classic building.

msquaredb

Agreed. I’d like to think that the roof will get some TLC, but I haven’t seen any official or detailed plan for the allocation of funds. Naturally, the press focused on the aesthetic improvements, and I hope they just chose to downplay or not mention roof improvement because it isn’t “sexy” rather than the plan not allocating for those types of improvements.

323SGrant

Assembly Hall should be razed. It is too old and dangerous.

Shaggy_C

The updates show it was actually a thin piece of decorative plating that was up there to hide the transition between the wall tiles and the roof. Not structural at all, thankfully. Of course you can’t risk those things falling down on the fans, but it’s not like a support beam came out of the rafters or a chunk of roof came down. A little less worried about playing home games in Indianapolis now…

oldiugymnast

I was at that King’s game – it sort of reminded me of the Hall…..

oldiugymnast

The line isn’t that hard – put yourself in the coach/player/schools perspective and don’t post something that you wouldn’t like them posting about you……

CTHoosiers

If I said it once, I’ve said it 100 times, CTC has recruited talented welders, but he can’t teach them the basic X’s and O’s of construction!!

SCHoosier

I was hoping the fans would raise the roof tonight for the Hoosiers..not raze the ..well you know.

HoosierPat

I highly doubt that’s a possibility but that would be awesome. That would be such a crazy atmosphere if they loaded up a gym like Seymour or something.

CTHoosiers

We need to win the B1G tournament anyway, might as well get a few practice games in at Bankers Life.

Michael McColly

Good point. The snow and ice has done a great deal of damage on structures everywhere this winter, but AH needs more than 40 million. Another problem for AD Fred Glass. Play in New Castle’s gym. Maybe we’d have a chance to rattle Iowa then.

BluegrassHoosier

UK is spending $300M on their renovations.

BluegrassHoosier

Completely agree that AH needs to go. One excuse the AD gave was they didn’t want to give naming rights to a company to pay for a new arena, so we call it Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall?

People bash CTC. Save some of that venom for our AD.

Court Storming Hoosier

I have always thought that IU should build a new stadium. This just reaffirms by beliefs.

skotchie

It’s the way you stated it. Something bad happens and you use it as an excuse to get up on a soapbox. Oh an let me save you the response, forget me!

The_Real_Assembly_Hall

I could see it possibly. That would be cool too.

The_Real_Assembly_Hall

Yeah but the B1G Tourney is in Chicago this year. Good thought though

notfargj

10-4. i misinterpreted your first sentence, thinking we should completely put the kabosh on anything lighthearted.

HoosierPat

It is also filled with indoor track stuff. Would be cool but I doubt that’s a realistic possibility.

Toms Crean

You do understand that the $40m in renovations would not have touched any roof repair, right? Face the facts: IU needs to pump $100 to $200 million to get Assembly up to Big Ten standards. It’s an embarrassment that we have the worst arena in the B1G in terms of technology/sight lines/facilities/etc. It’s an amazing venue but it’s time to move on and get it up to par. Everyone HAS to realize how bad this is making IU seem, right? You don’t think kids see this on the front page of ESPN/Deadspin and have second thoughts about playing at a school with a dump arena???

It’s in Indy this year. Now rotating back and forth between Indy and Chicago.

Rie

And your opinion is very correct. Had a good convo, and what I was referencing was pre-moderation so no worries. My third response says it all.

ForeverIU

And so are we. Sometimes two great jobs lead to a great (healthy) argument. LOL!

ForeverIU

I remember that comment, and I responded to it at the time. You clearly said he was a bad player, and clearly insinuated that he was dispensable because of it. It was a demeaning comment toward a player. I don’t remember comments being deleted just because they stated that Hanner could have killed someone.

Tim

It’s not Crean’s fault exactly, but he put the roof in a position to fail. 🙂

skotchie

I would agree with the (he could’ve killed someone) if
Hanner had been clocked doing 70mph down College Ave or 3rd St for that matter bouncing
off of curbs and cars. But he wasn’t he was observed doing 10-15 mph on Atwood
when pulled over. There is a degree to which you can screw up and his was to a
lesser degree. The people who are most emphatic about the degree of discipline
measures that need to be taken (kick him out of school) IMO are more driven by
Hanner’s on court performance than his off court performance. I highly doubt
they’d calling for his dismissal if he were a 20ppg 10rpg guy.

kaponya44

At least she held together to see the day Illinois renamed their building first.To the IU Administration.: We outlasted “them” – now build “us” a new one.

Bleeding Crimson

Milla, I’m surprised of your reactions today??? I do agree, plus take into consideration this has been one of the worst winters on record…not sure about Bloomington but I heard 40-50 yrs ago record snow fall. I’m sure someone can confirm the numbers due to the fact that I live in Sou, Indiana. The snow melts, turns into ice, the drainage is blocked by the ice and water and sludge just sits there, building up “let’s call it weight”, a reasonable cause for collapse. Renovations would not solve this issue but remember when was AH built? Before the last record snow fall. I do have one question…Alex, I always heard that a Purdue Eng. design AH…is that a joke or fact?

Bleeding Crimso

Now that’s a great motivator….win the rest and lose the first. I guess same goes for the dance…

The_Real_Assembly_Hall

How in the world did I miss that one? I am sorry CT, I messed the rotation up.

The_Real_Assembly_Hall

Yeah I completely blew that one man. My bad. I had it in my head it was back to Chicago this year.